Wilson Woodrow



Woodrow Wilson, as NJ Gov., Re: Abandoning a Political Benefactor, & Accidentally Alienating a Leading NJ Democrat: "he was never by any act I was conscious of, 'dropped' or slighted"







2pp TLS signed by future 28th U.S. President Woodrow Wilson as "Woodrow Wilson" in the bottom right hand corner of the second page. Dated August 5, 1911. On textured cream stationery, each sheet with black embossed "State of New Jersey / Executive Department" letterhead opposite a gilt embossed state seal. Expected light paper folds and wrinkles. A few pin holes (and rust impressions verso) in the upper left hand corners, else near fine. 7.75" x 9.75".







This letter explores a fascinating chapter in New Jersey state history as well as in the history of the Democratic Party. Written within ten months of Wilson's election as New Jersey Governor, it treats his controversial decision not to endorse one of the New Jersey politicians who had rallied him into office.







In part:







"The letter from Judge Hudspeth really distresses me. I had no idea that he felt as he does and wish very much that he understood better than he appears to understand my real feeling, which has always been one of genuine cordiality and friendship…







I, of course, knew of and deeply appreciated the great service he rendered in the campaign last autumn…







When the question of the election of a senator arose, Judge Hudspeth was perfectly frank and I honored the position he took very much. He frankly said that he would like to be left out of the matter entirely because of his life-long friendship with Ex-Senator Smith, although his personal judgment was that Mr. Martine ought to be returned to the Senate. I interpreted this to mean that he would rather not appear, at any rate during that season, as a supporter of my administration. Certainly, he was never by any act I was conscious of, 'dropped' or slighted. It distresses me that he should have received that impression…"







In the fall of 1910, Wilson's disenchantment with Princeton University's Board of Trustees--who had resisted his wide-sweeping reforms as president--neatly coincided with his political aspirations. Wilson resigned from Princeton, and was soon championed by prominent New Jersey Democrats like former Senator from New Jersey James Smith, Jr. (1851-1927). Smith and others helped Wilson secure the state's gubernatorial election. On November 8, 1910, Wilson swept into the Governor's mansion, defeating Republican candidate Vivian M. Lewis by a sizable margin. Wilson had run on a Progressive platform. He also vowed not to participate in or perpetuate any party politics.







His former mentor James Smith, Jr. experienced Wilson's principled stubbornness firsthand when the former attempted to return to the U.S. Senate soon after, in 1911. (Smith had served as a Senator from New Jersey between 1893-1899.) Wilson did not endorse Smith, instead lobbying support behind another Democratic primary candidate, James Edgar Martine (1850-1925). Martine won with 47 votes compared to third-runner-up Smith's 3 votes. Smith did not take his loss well; indeed one can only imagine Smith's resentment of Wilson's perceived defection. Martine--Wilson's very public choice, and Judge Hudspeth's very private one--would eventually serve as Senator from New Jersey between March 1911-March 1917.







"Judge Hudspeth" referred to Robert S. Hudspeth (1853-1929). The Jersey City attorney had been involved in state politics since the mid-1880s, and was a Democratic National committeeman in 1911. Wilson evidently patched things up with Hudspeth within the space of the intervening year, however, since Hudspeth supported Wilson's presidential bid in 1912. Hudspeth was a speaker at the 1912 Democratic National Convention and a presidential elector.







Wilson's correspondent Colonel William C. Liller (born 1878) was an affluent business executive and leading Democratic party man. The Spanish-American War veteran was involved in many clubs, among them, the National Democratic League of Clubs. Liller served as the chairman of this organization of over 800,000 members from 30+ states and territories between 1908-1912. This is the context, then, for the part in Wilson's letter where he talks about "address[ing] the rally of the Democratic Clubs at Columbus, Ohio…"







Just a year before his presidential bid, Governor of New Jersey Woodrow Wilson learns more about the political game!







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